Massive Fire Burns for Hours After Gasoline Tanker Crashes on US-131

DOWNTOWN GRAND RAPIDS — US-131 in downtown Grand Rapids was closed for hours on Saturday after a tanker truck hauling gasoline crashed and caught fire, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The incident occurred after 8 a.m. Saturday morning in the southbound lanes of US-131 just south of the I-196 overpass near the Pearl Street exit. Emergency crews responded immediately, closing both directions of the expressway to combat the blaze.

Two Semi Trucks Involved, One Driver Hospitalized

Grand Rapids Fire Department Deputy Chief of Operations Jack Johnson confirmed that two semi trucks were involved in the crash. One of the trucks was a tanker carrying 8,000 gallons of gasoline.

"There were two trucks involved, two semi trucks involved. Both were transported with non-life-threatening injuries to a local ER," Johnson said.

The tanker truck crashed up against the highway wall, sparking a massive fire that sent plumes of black smoke into the sky. The fire burned for approximately two hours before firefighters were able to bring it under control using fluorine-free foam.

Johnson noted that the fire was intense enough to require outside assistance. "We'd like to thank Allendale and Gerald R Ford International Airport crash fire rescue units for their assistance today. It's not normal that we have to call in for outside help, but it's nice to know that we have those resources available to us when we can," he said.

Cleanup Takes Nearly 12 Hours

Drivers faced significant disruptions as US-131 remained closed for approximately 12 hours. Northbound lanes were closed at Pearl Street, while southbound US-131 was closed at Leonard Street.

Traffic on both sides of the freeway was fully restored by 8:30 p.m. Saturday, according to MDOT.

Bridge Damage Under Investigation

An MDOT spokesperson stated that bridge inspectors and engineers arrived at the scene Saturday afternoon, with additional crews scheduled to arrive later. Officials are still determining whether any portion of the freeway will require repairs after the tanker fire.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by authorities.

Community Impact

The incident caused major traffic disruptions throughout downtown Grand Rapids and the surrounding area. The highway's closure affected commuters, local businesses, and regional traffic patterns.

MDOT and Grand Rapids Fire Department crews continued cleanup operations throughout the evening to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow.

Sources

• https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/vehicle-fire-closes-us-131-in-grand-rapids
• https://wzzm13.com/article/news/local/nb-sb-us-131-closed-due-to-large-tanker-fire/69-ccdf8458-0a90-4a6d-8b0b-d8c1f835113c